Any welders or metal hobbyists here?

[Mr. Wizard]

I am a 20 + year welding and metals teacher and welding inspector. I also have a website www.weldguru.com. I always enjoy talking anything metals related be it it fabrication or art as well. Any other metalheads out there?

[bigjosh006]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

You mean
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5145_200485145

Interesting, I have been eyeing those power sources, would love input from a welder on them. Have you tried the spool gun on alum yet?

We have several different alum wire setups, a major learning curve there ! All setup.

That little machine definately wort h the bucks. Tig is scratch start but if you use a decent tungsten it runs very well.the spoolgun runs real nice on aluminum. The mig process it uses is short arc and it runs as well as a three thousand dollar lincoln does. Dc stick is dc stick, but runs nice anyway.

[bigjosh006]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

COOL, all stick?
6010/7018?

No stick on our pipe. Closed root tig with a eighth inch insert. Hardly any steel pipe. Mostly copper nickel, stainless, and inconel.

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Very interesting. Welder buddy was telling me to get closer to my work, <1/2", but I kept creeping out because I can see my bead better with the handset a little further out. He also had me laying the bead in small lazy circles, cutting with the forward stroke and feeding the puddle with the back stroke.

Yes, thats not uncommon, because everything he was telling you is true with short circuit mig few people have experience with gasless flux core. Its a very different breed but once you master it, quite an inexpensive weld.

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by bigjosh006

That little machine definately wort h the bucks. Tig is scratch start but if you use a decent tungsten it runs very well.the spoolgun runs real nice on aluminum. The mig process it uses is short arc and it runs as well as a three thousand dollar lincoln does. Dc stick is dc stick, but runs nice anyway.

No starting issues on aluminum ? Most people struggle with the first inch of weld without using a start tab

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by bigjosh006

No stick on our pipe. Closed root tig with a eighth inch insert. Hardly any steel pipe. Mostly copper nickel, stainless, and inconel.

Oh wow, scratch start or high freq? Where are you at ? Annapolis?

[Chiefaholic]

I've been welding aluminum boats for the past 16 years as a profession, both mig and tig.

[bigjosh006]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

Oh wow, scratch start or high freq? Where are you at ? Annapolis?

High freq. I work at electric boat we build virginia class subs.

[bigjosh006]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

No starting issues on aluminum ? Most people struggle with the first inch of weld without using a start tab

Yeah its a stiff start. I used a runway pad to start. don't do much aluminum, mostly stainless and carbon steel with that machine.

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

What kind of power source(s) do you use?

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

great little machine. 6011 all day !